Giffords Praises Vermont Legislature for Approving Comprehensive Gun Safety Bill, Calls on Governor Scott to Sign Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC – Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, applauded the Vermont House and Senate for passing comprehensive gun safety legislation that expands protections for domestic violence victims and closes the Charleston Loophole, which allows people to purchase a firearm without a background check if the check takes longer than three business days. The bill is now headed to Governor Phil Scott’s desk. Giffords strongly urges Governor Scott to sign the bill into law. 

“This legislation, filled with commonsense, widely popular, and easy to understand policy, will go a long way towards saving lives,” said Sean Holihan, state legislative director at Giffords. “We thank Senator Phil Baruth, Representatives Martin LaLonde and Phil Notte, Judiciary Chairs Maxine Grand and Dick Sears, Speaker Jill Krowinski, and Senate President Becca Balint for having the courage to protect the people of Vermont from gun violence. We are grateful that Governor Scott, in expressing his support for closing the Charleston Loophole, understands the need for this legislation. He can now fulfill that commitment. We urge him to do just that.”

According to Giffords Law Center’sAnnual Gun Law Scorecard, Vermont received a C- in 2020 because of  legislation that raised the state’s minimum age laws and established extreme risk protection orders. After these laws were passed, Vermont went from the 23rd lowest gun death rate to the 10th-lowest. To save lives from gun violence, Vermont needs more robust gun safety legislation.

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